Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2005 - (JCN Newswire) - Kirin Brewery Company, Limited (TSE: 2503; Nasdaq: KNBWY) today announced that on July 18, 2005 it had closed on the acquisition of substantially all of Hematech, LLC. The agreement was signed by Katsuhiko Asano, president of Pharmaceutical Division for Kirin, and James M. Barton, CEO for Hematech, among other parties, and means that Hematech has become a subsidiary of Kirin.
Through this acquisition, Kirin has acquired Hematech's core technology and research infrastructure for production of bovine-derived human polyclonal antibodies. As a result, Kirin will hold Hematech's rights primarily related to polyclonal antibody production, along with the development and marketing rights already held by Kirin.